Saft’s Li-ion Satellite Technology Passes Fifth Anniversary Milestone
30 March 2009
Saft, the world specialist in the design and manufacture of high-tech industrial batteries, has celebrated the fifth anniversary in-orbit of its lithium-ion (Li-ion) technology.
Satellite power supply by Li-ion batteries represents a technological revolution that began on 16 March 2004 when Eutelsat W3A, the world’s first commercial GEO satellite to use Li-ion battery technology, was launched.
W3A was built by EADS Astrium for the operator Eutelsat. The success of Eutelsat W3A paved the way for the rapid uptake of Li-ion technology by the satellite industry. In just five years the installed energy on board GEO satellites equipped by Saft Li-ion technology has exceeded 350kW/h.
Philippe Jehanno, general manager of Saft's space and defence division, said: "The fifth anniversary of the launch of Eutelsat W3A is significant for Saft and EADS Astrium. It confirms our success in pioneering the use of Li-ion batteries for satellites.
"This innovation has not only enabled a reduction in mass but also ensures greater reliability. Achieving the important 350kW/h milestone is further confirmation of Saft’s position as the leader in Li-ion battery technology for GEO applications.
"We are also well-positioned to become the market leader in Li-ion technology for MEO [such as Galileo IOV equipped by Saft]. The recent contract for the first 18-satellite LEO constellation powered by Li-ion technology with MicroSat Systems Inc [MSI] paves the way in this market segment."
Eutelsat W3A is now six years into its planned 15-year service life, flying at an orbit of about 36,000km. Its Li-ion batteries play a vital role in its operation by providing all power for the electronic systems when the solar arrays, which supply more than 10kW of power in sunlight, are in the Earth’s shadow during the year's two long eclipse seasons.
The Saft VES 140 cells provide the same power as nickel-hydrogen batteries but, thanks to their high specific energy, are at least 200kg lighter, representing a significant saving on the spacecraft.
Saft’s latest development for GEO satellite applications is its new VES 180 cells that offer a significant increase of specific energy to 170Wh/kg compared with the previous version. This cell has been through a detailed mechanical study due to the technical constraints of the application.
